Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano

The area of Arenal volcano is Costa Rica’s capital of adventure. Here you can visit stunning waterfalls, zipline 1000meters through the rainforest, and relax in hot springs, and everything with the perfectly cone-shaped volcano as the backdrop.
Inhabitants/size: 8000
Province: Alajuela

Overview

The Arenal volcano was active until 2010, and visitors to the area could witness eruptions and lava flow. After 2010 the volcano has been dormant and no lava flow or eruptions can be seen currently. But you can still see smoke coming up from the 140-metres-(460 ft) wide crater on sunny days. You can explore the dried lava fields and the amazing flora and fauna around the volcano, but you cannot get up close to the crater for safety reasons. The national park of Arenal volcano has great trails around the base of the volcano where you can go on guided hikes and explore nature and see wildlife and get a lot of photo opportunities. If you like birding this is a great place for you.

Next to the volcano you have the small and cozy town of La Fortuna. Here you found everything that you need in hotels, restaurants, bars, and stores. In the middle of town the park is located and if you stand there in front of the church you can get an amazing picture with the whole volcano in the background. In La Fortuna you have a great variety of restaurants and here you can have everything from the great local cuisine to Italian, Mexican, and BBQ steakhouses. Only 15 minutes outside town you also have the stunning 72-meter-high waterfall of La Fortuna. This is the perfect half-day tour and you can get here with car/bus, do a hike, or horseback ride through the forest. When you reach the waterfall you can have a swim in the crystal clear water in the lagoon.

La Fortuna and Arenal volcano is perfectly located with several national parks on a short drive away, perfect for day tours. Tenorio National Park has one of Costa Rica’s most breathtaking waterfalls, Rio Celeste, and two more volcanoes. To hike in the rainforest along Rio Celestes’ bright blue waters is a rare and amazing phenomenon, and when the forest opens up and you see the big blue waterfall in the middle of all the green rainforest it’s just stunning.

About 2 hours north of La Fortuna town you have Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, a popular visit for nature lovers and ecotourists. Its 25,000 acres are considered one of the world’s most important wetlands due to its large biodiversity and over 300 species of birds.

The most popular thing to do here beside all the adventure activities is to relax in one of the many volcano-heated hot springs. Some hotels have their own private hot springs and there are other off-site hot springs, but all of them you can visit with a half- or full-day pass.

Next to the volcano you have the manmade Lake Arenal, built in 1978. The lake is now Costa Rica’s biggest lake with 33 sq.miles (85.5 square km) and really important in providing hydroelectric power. It now produces a big part of Costa Rica’s green electricity. The lake also offers a lot of fun tours like SUP, kayak, kite and windsurfing. The lake is also great for freshwater fishing and to catch rainbow bass early in the morning to the sound of howler monkeys and the volcano in the background. That’s just the next level of fishing. In the lake you can also catch tilapia, tiger bass, and machaca. The achaca is such a fun and strong fish to catch and its nickname is mini tarpon.

Hotels

Arenal Manoa

Arenal
Arenal Manoa & Hot springs resort is nestled in a...
From $ 250 / Night
Breakfast

Origins Lodge

Rio Celeste
If you're looking for the ultimate getaway, look no further...
From $ 723 / Night

The Springs Resort & Spa

arenal
Welcome to The Springs Resort & Spa, where the term...
From $ 455 / Night

Arenal Lodge

Arenal Volcano
Your stay in the beautiful tropical forests at our lodge...
From $ 118 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Montereal

Arenal Volcano
Montereal Hotel is the perfect hotel for you that wants...
From $ 83 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Tabacon

Arenal Volcano
Hotel Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa is located close to...
From $ 333 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast and hot-springs

Nayara Springs

Arenal Volcano
There is no better way to experience the lush vegetation...
From $ 421 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Hotel Rabfer

Arenal Volcano
Can you imagine a hotel that is spacious but still...
From $ 75 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

San Bosco Inn

Arenal Volcano
The San Bosco Inn was founded on the premise of...
From $ 58 / Night
Double room

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Arenal Volcano
Discover Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa, a green friendly luxury...
From $ 224 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Nayara Gardens

Arenal Volcano
This five-star luxury resort gives you a chance to discover...
From $ 450 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Nayara Tented Camp

Arenal Volcano
Step into nature as Nayara Tented Camps give you a...
From $ 900 / Night
Double room. included: breakfast

Amor Arenal

Arenal Volcano
A stunning 106-arce property situated in the foothills of the...
From $ 480 / Night
Double Bed / Breakfast

Tours

ATV Tour

Costa Rica is full of activities and adventures available to you during your vacation in this...
2-6 Hours
$ 75 / Person

Canyoning & Waterfall Rappelling

Costa Rica’s different mountain ranges have created some astonishing waterfalls that are well worth a visit....
4 Hours
$ 95 / Person

Coffee and Chocolate Tours

Costa Rica is world-famous for its great coffee, the Arabic coffee bean was brought to Costa...
2 Hours
$ 35 / Person

Hanging bridges

Costa Rica is world-famous for its amazing diversity in nature and wildlife and many travelers from...
2-4 Hours
$ 45 / Person

Hiking and Trekking tour

Costa Rica is an absolutely amazing country with its immense diversity of nature and wildlife. 5%...
1-6 hours
$ 55 / Person

Horseback riding

Costa Rica is a beautiful country with great natural diversity. While visiting this gem of a...
2-3 Hours
$ 55 / Person

Mountain biking

Costa Rica with its over 200 volcanic formations, different mountain ranges, and incredible nature offers many...
1-4 hours depending on trails
$ 80 / Person

Night hiking tours

Let us here at Tulu Travel take you on an amazing adventure in one of the...
4 Hours
$ 35 / Person

Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is located in Tenorio Volcano National Park and is one of Costa Rica’s most...
7-8 Hours
$ 95 / Person
A sloth haning from a tree and looking in the camera

Sloth tour

Costa Rica has one of the world’s greatest diversity in nature and more than 5% of...
2-3 Hours
$ 60 / Person

Hot springs

Here at Tulu Travel we are all about offering you the best possible activities while visiting...
Half-day & full-day availability
$ 55 / Person

Waterfall + Volcano Hike + Hot Springs

Costa Rica has more than 200 volcanic formations and the most famous one is the Volcano...
Half day or full day
$ 69-245 / Person

Waterfall tour

Waterfalls are a beautiful blessing by nature and they generally are created in the upper parts...
2 hours
$ 55 / Person

White water rafting

Costa Rica’s high elevation combined with a 14-river system that drains in the Pacific Ocean and...
3-6 hours
$ 75 / Person

Canopy Zip-Line

Costa Rica is world-famous for its natural diversity, and a great way to discover this is...
2 Hours
$ 55 / Person

Kayaking

With amazing rivers and coastlines on the both the Pacific and Caribbean fronts, Costa Rica kayaking...
2-8 Hours
$ 35 / Person

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